special association, a special relationship, more than what nelson mandela enjoyed with a string of american presidents, not only, of course, had president obama before he was president met nelson mandela, michelle obama, the first lady and both daughters spent time with him in south africa at his home, of course, this towering moral authority, a man who had visitors from all over the world, especially in his later years when his health started to fail and they had to go to him. world reaction, of course, is just now starting as the news broke so late local time in south africa. the white house quickly reacting to this news, the confirmation from south africa, president zuma having announced it on live television. let's look in on the white house briefing room where we are expecting the president. chuck todd is there. chuck, we have had occasions where we thought the news was coming. sadly, there's no turning it away. >> you'll remember when we traveled with the president to south africa about six months ago, at that time, there s lot of concern about nelson mandela's health then. it very mu